Electric battery



(No Model.) V

E. M. G. HEWETT. ELEGTRIG BATTERY,

No. 421,169. Patented Feb. 11,1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST M. GARDNER IIENETT, OF NEIVTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BYDIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE SAFETY ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY, OFMAINE.

ELECTRIC BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 421,169, dated February11, 1890.

Application filed June 29, 1889. Serial No. 315,978- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST M. GARDNER IIEWETT, of Newton, in the countyof Middlcsex and State of Massachusetts, have in 5 vented certain newand useful Improvements in Electric Batteries, of which the following isa specification.

This invention has for its object to improve the connection of carbonrods or pencils to the covers of batteryjars in such manner as toprevent the chemicals used in the battery and the fumes thereof fromacting 011 the metallic caps or fittings which are applied to the upperends of said carbon rods.

The invention consists in enlarging the holes for the pencils at theunder side of the cover, so as to form annular pockets around thepencils, said pockets being filled with any suitable cement which willresist the chem- 2o icals used in the battery and prevent them fromworking through the cover and around the pencils, thus protecting themetallic fittings on the upper ends of the pencils.

To prevent the fumes of the chemicals from passing through the pores ofthe carbon pencils I saturate the upper ends of the pencils with burnedparaffine, by immersing said ends in a bath of melted paraffine whichhas been ignited and allowed to burn for a brief period. The pores ofthe carbon are filled with the paraffine, so that the ends of thepencils thus treated are impervious to the liquid chemicals and thefumes thereof. The electrical resistance caused by the paraffine is soreduced by the burning of the same pre-' vious to its application thatthe conductivity of the carbon rods is not materially affected by theparaffine.

' The accompanying drawing represents a 0 sectional view of abattery-cover a, which maybe of wood or other non-conductor ofelectricity, and is provided with orifices Z) for the reception of thecarbon rods or pencils 0. Said holes are formed at the upper surface ofthe cover, so that they closely fit the pencils, and their lowerportions are reamed out or enlarged to form annular pockets cl aroundthe carbon rods. Said pockets, which ma be ta )erin as here shown or ofany other suitable form, are closely packed with a filling e of anysuitable cement which will resist the action of the chemicals used inthe battery. Tight joints are thus produced around the carbon rods,whereby the chemicals are prevented from working through 5 5 the coveraround the carbon rods and attacking the metallic fittings f 011 theupper ends of said rods.

The carbon of the pencils is somewhat porous, so that the fumes of thechemicals would naturally be liable to work throughthe pencils andattack the metal fittings. To prevent this I saturate the portions ofthe penoils that pass through the cover with melted paraffine, thusclosing the pores against the passage of the acid fumes.

As paraffine in its ordinary condition would affect the conductivity ofthe carbon, I ignite the melted paraffine and allow it to burn for a fewseconds before immersing the pencils in it. I find that this treatmentof the paraffine prevents it from materially aifecting the conductivityof the carbon, so that the pencils are rendered impervious to thechemicals without being unfitted for their ordinary use.

I claim- 1. A battery-cover having a series of holes to receive carbonrods or pencils, said holes being formed to closely fit the pencils atthe upper surface of the cover and enlarged at the lower surface to formpockets surrounding the pencils, combined with said pencils, and fillingor packings inserted in said pockets, as set forth.

2. A battery-cover having holes for the reception of carbon rods orpencils, said holes being enlarged to form annular pockets around thepencils, combined with rods or pencils inserted in said orifices andtreated 0 with burned paraffine, and fillings or packings inserted insaid. pockets around the pencils.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of 5 two subscribing witnesses, this 21st day of June, A. I).1889.

ERNEST n. GARDNER IIEWE'IT.

Witnesses:

C. F. BROWN, A. D. I-IARRrsoN.

